The Me’gong Festival 2025 began in Tura on Friday with a colourful opening ceremony and a large turnout of visitors from different parts of Meghalaya and other states. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma formally opened the event, marking the fifth edition of one of the biggest cultural festivals of Meghalaya. The festival will continue through the weekend and several major shows have been planned for the coming days. According to officials, thousands of people gathered at the venue on the opening evening. Many of them said that the festival has now become a major annual celebration for the people of Garo Hills and is also attracting tourists from outside the state. People were seen enjoying music shows, food stalls and several cultural activities across the large festival ground.
The first day of the festival was centred around live music performances on the Aski Stage. Well-known pop singer Richard Marx was the first major international artist to perform. He sang several popular songs as well as a few from his new album. He told the audience that he was happy to visit Meghalaya and perform in front of such a large and enthusiastic crowd. His performance was followed by singer Neeti Mohan, who sang well-known Hindi songs and old Bollywood numbers. She told the audience that she found the place extremely beautiful and wondered why she had not visited earlier. During her performance, Neeti Mohan also sang “Mayabini” as a tribute to the late singer Zubeen Garg, who was one of the most loved musicians from the Northeast. Audience members said the song created an emotional mood in the venue. Another major attraction was the performance by Julian Marley, who brought reggae music to the festival stage. After that, electronic music producer Nucleya ended the first night of events with a high-energy show. Large crowds stayed until the end of the programme and many members of the audience said this was one of the most memorable opening nights of the festival so far.
Several local artists from Meghalaya also performed on the first day. Groups such as Haystack Ladies, Strum Stories and Ahaia showcased local talent and traditional sounds. In addition to these artists, a special slot was given to the top contestants of the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project. Young musicians said that the programme is helping them with exposure and stage experience, especially by performing on the same platform as international artists. Nineteen-year-old Jakrima R Marak, one of the young performers, said that the project is helping new musicians from the state build confidence and improve their skills. Food remained a major attraction at the festival site. Many people visited the stalls of the Great Garo Hills Cook-Off, which returned for another edition this year. MasterChef India Season 8 runner-up Nambie Jessica Marak attended the event as a guest judge. She appreciated the participants for displaying traditional ingredients and recipes and said that such events help in preserving local food knowledge that is slowly disappearing.